History & Family
The Kennans & The Flynns
In 1983, Roundwood entered a new phase when it was bought by Rosemarie and Frank Kennan. They set about restoring the house with care, while keeping its character intact and making it a welcoming place for guests.
Frank’s love of books and conversation shaped the library, which remains one of the defining spaces in the house and a favourite with guests.
Over time, their daughter Hannah took over the running of Roundwood with her husband Paddy Flynn. Today, Roundwood is still very much a family home as well as a guesthouse. Hannah and Paddy live here with their two daughters, alongside a menagerie of animals, and daily life continues around shared meals and guests who often return year after year.
Roundwood’s history is layered rather than fixed. It is a story of land, house, and people, carried forward by those who care for it and those who pass through it as part of its ongoing life.
Early Days
Roundwood’s story begins in the late seventeenth century, when the land was acquired by the Sharp family, prominent members of the Quaker community. Anthony Sharp was one of the best known Irish Quakers of his time, closely associated with learning, strong principles, and a practical sense of responsibility. The Quaker tradition in Ireland tended to value integrity and stewardship over display.
The house itself was built in the eighteenth century as a Georgian country house, designed to sit comfortably within its landscape. It is measured and domestic in scale, with the house, outbuildings, and surrounding land intended to be a lived in and worked in place, rather than a statement of status. Maurice Craig includes Roundwood in his Classic Irish Houses of the Middle Size, and Desmond Guinness once described it as being like a doll’s house, an affectionate shorthand for its charm and human scale.
From the outset, Roundwood functioned as a home rooted in its setting and shaped by everyday life.
Music and Mayhem – Roundwood in the 1970s
The same years brought more informal cultural connections. Eric Burdon, best known as the lead singer of The Animals, spent time at Roundwood and recorded his first solo album here. This coincided with a period when the house saw a lively comings and goings of creatives, artists, and musicians.
While brief in the life of the house, this chapter remains part of its character and reflects Roundwood’s tendency to attract people from many different walks of life.
Get in touch to find out more.
Molloy & The Muse
By the 1970s, many Georgian houses across Ireland were under serious threat. Roundwood was safeguarded during this period through the involvement of the Irish Georgian Societyand, crucially, through the dedication of many volunteers who gave their time, skill, and energy to help keep the house standing and in active use.
This process was guided by Brian Molloy, who worked for the Irish Georgian Society and lived at Roundwood as caretaker. Under his watchful eye, the focus was on careful repair and maintenance, allowing the house to continue as a living place rather than becoming a sealed monument. The survival of Roundwood owes much to the Irish Georgian Society, to Molloy’s steady presence, and to the volunteers who put in the long hours of hard work.
During this time, the house also touched a wider cultural world. Through Molloy, Roundwood became connected with Henrietta Moraes, muse to Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Her time here forms part of the house’s social history and adds another layer to its long and varied story.
Stay
Roundwood House is a place to settle in, spend time together, and enjoy accommodation in a house that is still lived in and used as it was meant to be.
Dining
Dinner at Roundwood House centres on seasonal, thoughtful cooking using ingredients sourced as locally as possible.
Gift Vouchers
Roundwood House gift vouchers can be used towards a stay and/or dinner. They suit birthdays, anniversaries or simply giving someone time away.
Testimonials
“Roundwood House in County Laois is one of Ireland’s finest mid-size houses of the Georgian period…”
Maurice Craig
Classic Irish Houses of the Middle Size, 1976
“From the minute we turned into the driveway, we were in raptures, as the house is filled with character, style and history. You have to eat dinner here; please don’t even think about going anywhere else! And breakfast couldn’t be better. Hannah was a wonderful host.”
Joanne W.
“Hannah and Paddy are wonderful hosts who go out of their way to make you feel at home… The food is divine… Paddy is not only an amazing cook but a talented musician too.”
Richard & Fiona, Killiney, Dublin
“We stayed in Writers Cottage. Pictures do not do this little Cottage justice… This hidden gem in the woods is packed with atmosphere & character… I highly recommend this accommodation”.
Tim T.
“A group of 12 enjoyed a perfect overnight stay here with ducks, hens and dogs in the grounds to greet us… Hannah was a perfect host, warm, welcoming, available but never intrusive. Paddy the chef produces the best meal I ever tasted.”
Margaret T.
“We found the house magical and the hospitality extended to us above and beyond. We had the 4 course dinner prepared by Paddy both nights of our stay and it was phenomenal.”
Toby M.
“Hannah and all the staff offered a masterclass in hospitality at its best. A gracious host, everything was managed exactly as you’d want it to be. The food was spectacular. The house and library are so charming.”
Alice Simington
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